The Mepe Traditional Council, in collaboration with the Mepe Development Association (MDA), has launched the 68th Afenorto Festival.

The 68th Afenorto Festival was launched at the GNAT Hall in Accra last Friday under the auspices of the Manklalo of Mepe Traditional Area, Torgbe Kwasi Nego VI. The Afenorto is an annual festival celebrated by the people of Mepe in the North District of the Volta Region. Afenorto, which translates as “Rest at Home”, is a period where the people of Mepe rest and take stock of their lives, strengthen family and friendship bonds, pay homage to ancestors and plan for the future.

This year’s celebration scheduled for early August is on the theme: “Rebuilding and Sustainability of Mepe; Post Akosombo Dam Flood Disaster”. It will be a period for the natives of Mepe to count on the impact of the Akosombo Dam spillage, which destroyed properties last year.

At the launch of the Afenorto, Togbe Kwasi Nego VI lamented the neglect of the people of Mepe by the government following the devastating experience of the Akosombo Dam spillage.

He said although they were aware of the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee to investigate and plan future spillage, the Mepe Traditional Council was yet to be called or visited by the said committee.

“Last year, we heard that an inter-ministerial committee was set up. We have been waiting for the inter-ministerial committee to come to us, and listen to some of our challenges; till now, we haven’t met with the inter-ministerial committee,” he said.

Torgbe Nego VI noted that recent developments suggested that the government had not learnt from past flood spillage experiences and its consequent destruction to lives and properties.

“We realised that no lesson was learnt from spillage in 1963 during the construction of the Akosombo Dam. Measures were not put in place to prevent future floods, and it happened again last year,” Torgbe Nego lamented.

On potential flooding this year, the Manklalo of Mepe Traditional Area noted that they had received notice of a possible spillage and flooding this year.

“We received the message two weeks ago as we were preparing for our festival. As of now, the Volta River Authority (VRA) has not come out to issue dates of possible spillage. We are still sitting and waiting, and we don't know what will come tomorrow,” he said.

Plea and support

Torgbe Nego VI pleaded with the government and the VRA to learn from the experiences of last year and put in place measures to minimise the impact.

“We plead with the government and VRA that they should learn something from what happened last year and put proper measures in place even if they will spill. They should spill it gradually so that we don't go through what happened last year,” he stated.

Gratitude

Torgbe Nego expressed gratitude to Ghanaians for their kind gestures and support offered them during the disaster last year, as well as the media, which mounted serious campaigns for their welfare.

He called on Ghanaians home and abroad and the media to join them for this year’s Afenorto festival to recount their experiences, witness how they lived prior to the Akosomo Dam spillage and rebuild a sustainable Mepe.

For his part, the Chairman of the MDA, Fabian Kojo Mawulenu, said the MDA would work hard to ensure that Mepe was rebuilt, and regained a good standing.  Meanwhile, he urged all Ghanaians, especially natives of Mepe, to join the development drive to build a stronger society to erase the memories of the unfortunate experiences.